page_title: Fineness
section_title: Gold
hierarchical_section_title: Fineness / Millesimal fineness / Gold
caption_attribution_description: 1 oz of 999,9 fine gold from Valcambi Suisse
context_page_description: The fineness of a precious metal object represents the weight of fine metal therein, in proportion to the total weight which includes alloying base metals and any impurities. Alloy metals are added to increase hardness and durability of coins and jewelry, alter colors, decrease the cost per weight, or avoid the cost of high-purity refinement. For example, copper is added to the precious metal silver to make a more durable alloy for use in coins, housewares and jewelry. Coin silver, which was used for making silver coins in the past, contains 90% silver and 10% copper, by mass. Sterling silver contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% of other metals, usually copper, by mass.
  Various ways of expressing fineness have been used and two remain in common use: millesimal fineness expressed in units of parts per 1,000 and karats used only for gold. Karats measure the parts per 24, so that 18 karat = ​¹⁸⁄₂₄ = 75% and 24 karat gold is considered 100% gold.
context_section_description: 999.999—six nines fine: the purest gold ever produced. Refined by the Perth Mint in 1957.
  999.99—five nines fine: the purest type of gold currently produced; the Royal Canadian Mint regularly produces commemorative coins in this fineness, including the world's largest at 100 kg.
  999.9—four nines fine: Most popular. E.g. ordinary Canadian Gold Maple Leaf and American Buffalo coins
  999—24 karat, also occasionally known as three nines fine: e.g., Chinese Gold Panda coins
  995: the minimum allowed in Good Delivery gold bars
  990—two nines fine
  986—Ducat fineness: formerly used by Venetian and Holy Roman Empire mints; still in use in Austria and Hungary
  958.3—23 karat
  916—22 karat: historically the most widely used fineness for gold bullion coins, such as the oldest American Eagle denominations from 1795–1833.  Currently used for British Sovereigns, South African Krugerrands, and the modern (1986—present) American Gold Eagles.
  900—one nine fine: American Eagle denominations for 1837–1933; currently used in Latin Monetary Union mintage (e.g. French and Swiss "Napoleon coin" 20 francs)
  899—American Eagles briefly for 1834—1836
  834—20 karat
  750—18 karat - In Spain "oro de primera ley"  (first law gold)
  625—15 karat
  583.3—14 karat - In Spain "oro de segunda ley" (second law gold)
  417—10 karat
  375—9 karat
  333—8 karat: minimum standard for gold in Germany after 1884
caption: 1 troy ounce of four nines fine gold (999.9)
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